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Negotiated Marriage #2
Intimate
They've loved each other for years, but they've never been intimate before.
Marissa has decided to live without sex, since it's brought her nothing but trauma. At twenty-three, she'd rather just be celibate, and not even her best friend, Caleb, will change her mind.
After spending his childhood touring as a concert cello prodigy, Caleb is experimenting with living a stable life. For years, he has refused to commit to anything except his friendship with Marissa, but his feelings for her have never been romantic. Until recently.
So now he has to show her that sex doesn't have to hurt.
Marissa has decided to live without sex, since it's brought her nothing but trauma. At twenty-three, she'd rather just be celibate, and not even her best friend, Caleb, will change her mind.
After spending his childhood touring as a concert cello prodigy, Caleb is experimenting with living a stable life. For years, he has refused to commit to anything except his friendship with Marissa, but his feelings for her have never been romantic. Until recently.
So now he has to show her that sex doesn't have to hurt.
292 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2013
9 people are currently reading
1154 people want to read
About the author
Noelle Adams
140 books2,670 followersNoelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn't stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 21, 2016
Could have been good since I love best friends to lovers stories. Frankly though, I lost patience with the heroine halfway through. Her melodrama over being scarred for life on sex stemmed from something so comparatively petty and trivial... ugh. (She HEARD some sex when she was a child... and this apparently traumatized her for life. Snort.) I just started rolling my eyes and wishing she'd get over it.
And when she did her big reveal of something that she knew would hurt the hero badly, she didn't even prepare him for it or think about him--it was still all about herself.
Also, the end of the book could have used less sex scenes and more resolving of some issues left hanging:
And when she did her big reveal of something that she knew would hurt the hero badly, she didn't even prepare him for it or think about him--it was still all about herself.
Also, the end of the book could have used less sex scenes and more resolving of some issues left hanging:
December 19, 2025
Intimate by Noelle Adams is a contemporary friends‑to‑lovers romance and the second book in the Negotiated Marriage series, focusing on a pair of childhood best friends whose deep affection has never crossed into the romantic or sexual... until life begins to change their relationship in unexpected ways. Marissa has chosen celibacy at twenty‑three because past sexual experiences brought her nothing but distress, and she’d rather live without sex altogether.
Caleb, a former concert cello prodigy now trying to ground himself in a stable life, has been her unwavering friend for years, and only recently realized his feelings for her might be something more than platonic. Now he faces the challenge of showing her that intimacy doesn’t have to hurt, and that love and connection might be what their friendship was always meant to become.
Reading Intimate feels like leaning in close to a story about vulnerability and trust: Marissa’s emotional barriers aren’t lightweight obstacles, they’re tied to real discomfort rooted in her past, and her journey toward understanding what intimacy means to her is central to the romance. Caleb’s patient devotion and the way his feelings evolve beyond friendship made me appreciate the slow burn of a relationship that refuses to be rushed or simplified. I found Marissa’s trauma response and the heavy dialogue about sex overextended.
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars. I’m giving Intimate three stars because it tackles sensitive emotional terrain with warmth and empathy, and the core friends‑to‑lovers arc is heartfelt and sincere. However, the focus on sexual tension and repeated internal debate about intimacy sometimes slowed the narrative for me, and I wished for deeper external plot or characterization beyond the central emotional thread.
If you enjoy romances that confront vulnerability and the meaning of closeness with tenderness and a thoughtful voice, this one will offer thoughtful moments even if it isn’t a perfect fit for every reader.
Caleb, a former concert cello prodigy now trying to ground himself in a stable life, has been her unwavering friend for years, and only recently realized his feelings for her might be something more than platonic. Now he faces the challenge of showing her that intimacy doesn’t have to hurt, and that love and connection might be what their friendship was always meant to become.
Reading Intimate feels like leaning in close to a story about vulnerability and trust: Marissa’s emotional barriers aren’t lightweight obstacles, they’re tied to real discomfort rooted in her past, and her journey toward understanding what intimacy means to her is central to the romance. Caleb’s patient devotion and the way his feelings evolve beyond friendship made me appreciate the slow burn of a relationship that refuses to be rushed or simplified. I found Marissa’s trauma response and the heavy dialogue about sex overextended.
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars. I’m giving Intimate three stars because it tackles sensitive emotional terrain with warmth and empathy, and the core friends‑to‑lovers arc is heartfelt and sincere. However, the focus on sexual tension and repeated internal debate about intimacy sometimes slowed the narrative for me, and I wished for deeper external plot or characterization beyond the central emotional thread.
If you enjoy romances that confront vulnerability and the meaning of closeness with tenderness and a thoughtful voice, this one will offer thoughtful moments even if it isn’t a perfect fit for every reader.
December 12, 2018
Marissa dan Caleb adalah teman sejak kecil berkat kedua orang tuanya. Caleb ini maskulin dan suka main perempuan. Tapi hanya pada Marissa, Caleb mengalamin perasaan hanya sebagai teman dekat. Berbeda dengan Marissa, dia sudah menyukai Caleb dari dulu. Tapi Marissa tau, Caleb hanya menganggapnya teman dan plus, jika mereka jadian pun, Marissa pikir dia ngga akan bisa karena Marissa mual membayangkan mereka having sex.
Yak yang satu punya libido aktif, yang satu libidonya rendah. Apa yang terjadi jika mereka memulai suatu hubungan ? Inilah yang coba diangkat dalam cerita ini.
Tambah menariknya juga adalah bagaimana Caleb mulai memikirkan Marissa lebih dari sekedar teman di suatu momen. Karena itu, Caleb mulai jaga jarak. Jarang angkat telepon, jarang mampir ke apartemen Marissa. Marissa bingung dengan perubahan ini. Pas ditanyain ke Caleb pun, Marissa malah mendapati jawaban ambigu. Sementara itu, ada teman kerja Caleb yang mulai mendekati Marissa, bikin Caleb mau ga mau mengambil tindakan.
Sampai bagian ini, alur ceritanya agak lambat. Lebih banyak menceritakan bagaiman Caleb dan Marissa menyelesaikan persoalan mereka. Sementara endingnya kurang memuaskan, menurutku.
3 bintang
Yak yang satu punya libido aktif, yang satu libidonya rendah. Apa yang terjadi jika mereka memulai suatu hubungan ? Inilah yang coba diangkat dalam cerita ini.
Tambah menariknya juga adalah bagaimana Caleb mulai memikirkan Marissa lebih dari sekedar teman di suatu momen. Karena itu, Caleb mulai jaga jarak. Jarang angkat telepon, jarang mampir ke apartemen Marissa. Marissa bingung dengan perubahan ini. Pas ditanyain ke Caleb pun, Marissa malah mendapati jawaban ambigu. Sementara itu, ada teman kerja Caleb yang mulai mendekati Marissa, bikin Caleb mau ga mau mengambil tindakan.
Sampai bagian ini, alur ceritanya agak lambat. Lebih banyak menceritakan bagaiman Caleb dan Marissa menyelesaikan persoalan mereka. Sementara endingnya kurang memuaskan, menurutku.
3 bintang
December 13, 2013
hmm.. karakter kek Caleb ini cuma di novel deh, kaga ada orang bisa sesabar itu dudududud...
Marissa, si heroine die punya trauma pas kecil, sampai dia enek tiap kali akan melakukan hubungan sex, atau bahkan memikirkan sex.
Engga.. die bukan di abuse kok pas kecil, emang si emaknya itu kecanduan alkohol dan cenderung kaga ngurusin die bahkan sampe bpknya ambil perwalian full pas ortunya cerai
jadi selain trauma tetang sex, die jg punya kecenderungan buat ngatur dan ngurusin orang lain (kebiasaan dr kecil die ngurusin emaknya).
Caleb, si hero. die pemain celo yg jenius, bahkan pas kecil aja die ude keliling kemana2 buat konser tunggal.
Marissa ketemu Caleb pas umurnya baru belasan (gw lupa) pokoknya dari kecil deh mereka temenan, emaknya si Marissa ini jg pemain musik keknya jadi sering tour2 gitu
Caleb 2th lebih tua dr Marissa, tp karena Marissa ini punya kecenderungan menghawatirkan segalanya jadi si Caleb ini malah kek di urusin sama Marissa.
Apa marissa ga pernah sekalipun berhubungan sex? sekali dan abis itu malah trauma lebih parah dan Caleb yg ada disampingnya ngehibur dan nenangin, sampai marissa ambil keputusan ga akan pernah berhubungan sex lagi titik.
5th kemudian, Caleb memutuskan berhenti solo tour dan masuk orkestra, meski die kaga suka (ini jg karena Marissa si, soalnya Caleb ude kek hampir menuju kehancuran, bkn karir nya tp kehidupan pribadinya, mabuk2an, sex sana-sini dst lah)
Mereka masih temenan awalnya, Caleb jg kaga mikir macem2 si, sampe pesta sama temen2 orkestranya Caleb dan si Marissa flirting sana-sini, awalnya Caleb kesel kr "gimana si lo, katanya ga mau berhubungan sex kok lo kek gitu" hmpfh
Biasa lah, tipe2 hero alpha yg NEON NAE GEOYA!!! (You're mine!) belum lagi kemunculan Baron James (hero buku 3) kakak temennya Caleb yg mo ngajakin Caleb bikin band jazz dan nggodain Marissa (kasian gw ama Caleb beneran)
akhirnya Caleb bilang si ke Marissa, kl kita bisa temenan dan lebih.. gw cinta ama lo dan lo jg cinta ke gw kan?! (ini kenapa gw jd kek ngomongin sinet)
ya pokoknya setelah debat sana sini, eyel2an, akhirnya si marissa jg mo nyobain lah berhubungan sex, tp ga langsung.. jadi yg bener2 gw kasian banget sama Caleb dan die dgn sabarnya ngadepin marissa (salut! dan cuma dlm novel)
dan apa si sebenernya traumanya marissa itu? pokoknya ada hubungannya sama Caleb... gw pas baca jg "o o.." baca sajah...
Noele Adams, bagiku porsinya pas.. ga kebanyakan uhuk2, tp tetep hot dan.. hero-heroinenya jg karakternya oke..
lanjut REVIVAL si Baron James XD
Marissa, si heroine die punya trauma pas kecil, sampai dia enek tiap kali akan melakukan hubungan sex, atau bahkan memikirkan sex.
Engga.. die bukan di abuse kok pas kecil, emang si emaknya itu kecanduan alkohol dan cenderung kaga ngurusin die bahkan sampe bpknya ambil perwalian full pas ortunya cerai
jadi selain trauma tetang sex, die jg punya kecenderungan buat ngatur dan ngurusin orang lain (kebiasaan dr kecil die ngurusin emaknya).
Caleb, si hero. die pemain celo yg jenius, bahkan pas kecil aja die ude keliling kemana2 buat konser tunggal.
Marissa ketemu Caleb pas umurnya baru belasan (gw lupa) pokoknya dari kecil deh mereka temenan, emaknya si Marissa ini jg pemain musik keknya jadi sering tour2 gitu
Caleb 2th lebih tua dr Marissa, tp karena Marissa ini punya kecenderungan menghawatirkan segalanya jadi si Caleb ini malah kek di urusin sama Marissa.
Apa marissa ga pernah sekalipun berhubungan sex? sekali dan abis itu malah trauma lebih parah dan Caleb yg ada disampingnya ngehibur dan nenangin, sampai marissa ambil keputusan ga akan pernah berhubungan sex lagi titik.
5th kemudian, Caleb memutuskan berhenti solo tour dan masuk orkestra, meski die kaga suka (ini jg karena Marissa si, soalnya Caleb ude kek hampir menuju kehancuran, bkn karir nya tp kehidupan pribadinya, mabuk2an, sex sana-sini dst lah)
Mereka masih temenan awalnya, Caleb jg kaga mikir macem2 si, sampe pesta sama temen2 orkestranya Caleb dan si Marissa flirting sana-sini, awalnya Caleb kesel kr "gimana si lo, katanya ga mau berhubungan sex kok lo kek gitu" hmpfh
Biasa lah, tipe2 hero alpha yg NEON NAE GEOYA!!! (You're mine!) belum lagi kemunculan Baron James (hero buku 3) kakak temennya Caleb yg mo ngajakin Caleb bikin band jazz dan nggodain Marissa (kasian gw ama Caleb beneran)
akhirnya Caleb bilang si ke Marissa, kl kita bisa temenan dan lebih.. gw cinta ama lo dan lo jg cinta ke gw kan?! (ini kenapa gw jd kek ngomongin sinet)
ya pokoknya setelah debat sana sini, eyel2an, akhirnya si marissa jg mo nyobain lah berhubungan sex, tp ga langsung.. jadi yg bener2 gw kasian banget sama Caleb dan die dgn sabarnya ngadepin marissa (salut! dan cuma dlm novel)
dan apa si sebenernya traumanya marissa itu? pokoknya ada hubungannya sama Caleb... gw pas baca jg "o o.." baca sajah...
Noele Adams, bagiku porsinya pas.. ga kebanyakan uhuk2, tp tetep hot dan.. hero-heroinenya jg karakternya oke..
lanjut REVIVAL si Baron James XD
July 13, 2016
Awful. Asexuality is something that's "fixed" (as if there's anything wrong with it in the first place) and the hero emotionally blackmails the (asexual, sex-repulsed) heroine into trying by leveraging their emotionally co-dependent relationship.
I rage-quit sometime before the end (after they'd had sex.)
I rage-quit sometime before the end (after they'd had sex.)
March 20, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Noelle Adams, but I was really disappointed with this one. Marissa had some trauma as a child. And while hearing your baby sitter have sex can be a little disturbing, it's not exactly the kind of stuff that should traumatise you for life. I read to the end purely because I'd started the book, but lost interest way before I got there.
August 14, 2017
This is the first Noelle Adams book I didn't like. I didn't like the characters, the story was way too long and definitely could've been told in less than 200 pages.
July 6, 2013
For me, this book had all the ingredients for a fun read but somehow it fell a little short.
Normally I'm all for the friends to lovers plot line but as people before me have mentioned, there is way too much sex in this novel. That being said, after finishing the book, I was surprised at the little things that I could remember about the story line. Objectively speaking, I should have enjoyed the plot line, the personal struggles of the leading man and lady, and also the little subplot involving Baron. This left me confused because I did not particularly like it or dislike it, hence my 3 star rating.
And an obligatory: "I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads". :)
Normally I'm all for the friends to lovers plot line but as people before me have mentioned, there is way too much sex in this novel. That being said, after finishing the book, I was surprised at the little things that I could remember about the story line. Objectively speaking, I should have enjoyed the plot line, the personal struggles of the leading man and lady, and also the little subplot involving Baron. This left me confused because I did not particularly like it or dislike it, hence my 3 star rating.
And an obligatory: "I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads". :)
October 26, 2013
This is a very loosely connected book to the Negotiated Marriage series. Baron the ex in said book and hero of Revival is a supporting character in Caleb's and Marissa's story.
My favorite trope is friends to lovers so I had high hopes for this book. It fell flat for me. Marissa's issues with sex was over the top in my opinion. There were so many conversations about sex and her issues that by the time they crossed the hurdle I was exhausted.
I liked the two characters but I didn't like the plot. I think these two characters deserved a better story than the one they got. I think it was a mistake to center it around sex. Even a straight forward friends to lovers both afraid to make the leap would've been better than what I felt was a tedious back and forth.
My favorite trope is friends to lovers so I had high hopes for this book. It fell flat for me. Marissa's issues with sex was over the top in my opinion. There were so many conversations about sex and her issues that by the time they crossed the hurdle I was exhausted.
I liked the two characters but I didn't like the plot. I think these two characters deserved a better story than the one they got. I think it was a mistake to center it around sex. Even a straight forward friends to lovers both afraid to make the leap would've been better than what I felt was a tedious back and forth.
considering-2
June 20, 2013I loved Listed so I am very excited about this one!
http://www.jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
Marissa has decided to live without sex, since it's brought her nothing but trauma. At twenty-three, she'd rather just be celibate, and not even her best friend, Caleb, will change her mind.
After spending his childhood touring as a concert cello prodigy, Caleb is experimenting with living a stable life. For years, he has refused to commit to anything except his friendship with Marissa, but his feelings for her have never been romantic. Until recently.
So now he has to show her that sex doesn't have to hurt
http://www.jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
Marissa has decided to live without sex, since it's brought her nothing but trauma. At twenty-three, she'd rather just be celibate, and not even her best friend, Caleb, will change her mind.
After spending his childhood touring as a concert cello prodigy, Caleb is experimenting with living a stable life. For years, he has refused to commit to anything except his friendship with Marissa, but his feelings for her have never been romantic. Until recently.
So now he has to show her that sex doesn't have to hurt
February 9, 2014
This book was well written but the least favorite one from this author. maybe too long too dragging but I could fully understood Marisa perception and reason.
It really took nearly full of the book to understand the real reason beneath and how hard it was for her and also being able to share that with Caleb.
What I really like was the love their share and the fact that each of them felt the other one was more important.
It really took nearly full of the book to understand the real reason beneath and how hard it was for her and also being able to share that with Caleb.
What I really like was the love their share and the fact that each of them felt the other one was more important.
September 14, 2015
The mental condition about not having sex was just too much. I mean I have never heard of anything of such thing till now but if that is possible the author had done a perfect work with the book.
The book was more of sexual hangover and fantasy rather than much about actual relationship between them.
The author should have included the therapy sessions in the book to give a lot more of character understanding and I don't understand what's the problem with musical tours.
The book was more of sexual hangover and fantasy rather than much about actual relationship between them.
The author should have included the therapy sessions in the book to give a lot more of character understanding and I don't understand what's the problem with musical tours.
June 24, 2013
2.5*
Whilst I usually love the friends-to-lovers trope, there was FAR too much sex in this book - and when they weren't doing it, they were talking about it and it was all OTT.
The book gains 1/2* for Marissa studying Latin.
Whilst I usually love the friends-to-lovers trope, there was FAR too much sex in this book - and when they weren't doing it, they were talking about it and it was all OTT.
The book gains 1/2* for Marissa studying Latin.
July 28, 2013
Usually I enjoy friend to lover books. but this book Noelle Adams has to much sex. I never rate a book a one but this deserving a one. What happened Noelle Adams I usually enjoy your books
February 9, 2020
I love Adams, but this is not one of my favorite heroines. Super annoying, I got sick of her halfway through the book.
August 8, 2014
Too long, painfully detailed, unmoving, drama for nada...total sap fest, unlikely demeanour/tone of language for adults so young...like a bad soap opera...
Read
July 6, 2014Another sweet one, I am loving Noelle Adams she makes soft & wonderful to read
April 18, 2015
DNF at 27%
October 31, 2016
3.5 stars
June 19, 2016
Barely made through it.
May 10, 2019
They've loved each other for years, but they've never been intimate before.
Marissa has decided to live without sex, since it's brought her nothing but trauma. At twenty-three, she'd rather just be celibate, and not even her best friend, Caleb, will change her mind.
After spending his childhood touring as a concert cello prodigy, Caleb is experimenting with living a stable life. For years, he has refused to commit to anything except his friendship with Marissa, but his feelings for her have never been romantic. Until recently.
So now he has to show her that sex doesn't have to hurt.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews